Can-clamp.



No. 64|,l82. Patented Ian. 9, I900. r. .1. BECKER.

CAN CLAMP.

(Application filed Dec. 12, 1898.)

(No Model.)

wifnesses TNE NORRIS PETERS an mom-urns" WASHINGTON, n.c

Nl'liF Smarts ATENT Fries.

FRANK J. BECKER, OF HAMILTON, OI-IIO, ASSIGNOR TO THADDEUS A. NEELY, OF MUNOIE, INDIANA.

CAN-=CLAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 641,182, dated January 9, 1900.

Application filed December 12,1898. Serial No. 699,060. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK J. BEoKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hamilton, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Oan-Olamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to can-clamps of that class adapted to hold fruit-cans during the process of filling; and the objects of my improvement are to provide means to prevent the can or jarfrom slipping through the clamp and means to prevent the clamp from breaking the cans. These objects are attained in the following-described manner,as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clamp in position on a can; Fig. 2, a plan of the clamp, and Fig. 3 a plan of the lid-wrench.

In the drawings, 4 represents an ordinary glass can or jar provided with rubber gasket 6 and lid 7. Said lid is formed with screwthreads to engage with corresponding threads on the neck of the jar to close the same. Wrench 8, consisting of a single wire properly formed, serves to turn the lid to open or close the jar.

The clamp consists of a single Wire formed by bending ring or step 11 in its middle portion and forming a twist or shank 12 of the two end portions of the wire thus brought together to extend ashort distance from one side of the step and perpendicular to the plane thereof. From the opposite extremity of the said shank the end portions of the wire are turned in opposite directions and at right angles to the shank. Thence they are curved toward each other to form jaws 13, thattogether describe an arc of the same circle and in a plane parallel to the step and on the same side of the shank therewith. The jaws ter minate before completing a full circle by an outward bend in the said end portions of the wire that forms them and that diverge and terminate in the extended plane of the jaws to receive handles 14. Cushions 15 are formed of leather or other suitable yielding substance to protect the can from being injured by the jaws, and each is perforated by a hole 16 at each end. The jaws are inserted through the holes in the respective cushions before the handles are secured to the extremities of the wire. Staples 17 fasten the cushions immovably to and on the inner side of the respective jaws. In operation the torsion of the wire in the shank keeps the jaws of the clamp separated or open. A can or jar placed between them is supported on the step. The jaws are caused to clamp the can more or less between the cushions by pressing the handles toward each other with one hand to overcome the torsion of the shank. The other hand may now be used in filling the can or in actuating the wrench to turn the lid either to open or close the can.

Having fully described my improvement, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

1. The combination of clamping-jaws, a step and a torsional shank connecting them together.

2. The combination of clampingjaws, a torsional shank and a step all formed of a sin-' gle wire substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.

FRANK J. BECKER. lVitnesses:

ROBERT S. CARR, H. H. HAINES. 

